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Concert Reviews:
-Mithril and Mobile Symphony - March 14, 2009
-Mithril's performance at Laidlaw 'sublime'
-Symphony presents tuneful evening with Celtic group Mithril

CD Reviews:
-The Return Home
-Winter's Day 1
-Winter's Day 2

Review of the CD "Winter's Day" by www.christmasreviews.com

Mithril's Winter's Day is an old-fashioned Celtic cure for the wintertime blues. Kick up your heels and be prepared for homey comfort and irrepressible smiling; this upbeat piece of heaven will have your holidays reeling reel after reel after reel (slight exaggeration--only track 12 presents true reels)! Mithril consists of four marvelous members (Tom Morley, Andra Bohnet, Ben Harper, and David Harper); Barbara Gabriel also provides her exquisite cello assistance on the achingly beautiful "The Wishing Tree."

As an example of musical group cross-fertilization, two Mithril members (Andra Bohnet and Tom Morley) are also principals with the Silverwood Quartet, an elegant classical chamber ensemble (see the Silverwood Quartet's To Drive the Cold Winter Away, also reviewed on this site). In fact, guest Barbara Gabriel is also a Silverwood Quartet member. Unlike the Silverwood quartet, Mithril is not about elegance and classical strings; instead, Mithril concerns more earthly Celtic pleasures.

As Mithril bursts into song, the listener can readily be fooled into thinking the band must be much larger than just four; the sound is rich, rollicking, and full-bodied. This instrumental album presents 12 pieces. Of these, several are obvious Christmas numbers, but others are unfamiliar, and some have no direct bearing on the holidays. Still, all hang together in the nicest holiday package, and the album is a delightful discovery for those who want to hear something a bit different as December slides through its darkest moments. In fact, Winter's Day will be a breath of fresh air long after the Christmas tree has sailed either out the door or into the storage closet; its has enough nonholiday oomph to carry any listener through winter's entirety with ease.

My favorite tracks? That's a tough question, given the impressive overall quality of this offering. I tend to like the creativity and diversity involved in holiday medleys, and this album presents many excellent combinations; for example, the "Greensleeves/What Reel is This?/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" medley with its rhythmic percussion is especially excellent.

Winter's Day will definitely make YOUR day if you enjoy instrumental Celtic music for the holidays. Mithril is a mighty fine group, and the band stands ready to make your winter season come alive with music!

--Carol Swanson

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